Speech Pathology

Studies in Speech Pathology are directed toward an understanding of human communication and swallowing disorders, and are motivated by the aim to develop and implement interventions which will improve the lives of people affected by these disorders. Problems with communication and swallowing affect both children and adults, for example:

Delayed speech and language development
Speech disorders
Stuttering
Voice disorders
Communication disorders of neurological origin (eg from stroke, head injury)
Hearing loss

What will I study?

Studying speech pathology also involves the exploration of a range of other related areas including:

Linguistics
Psychology
Bioscience
Anatomy
Neuroscience.

Speech pathology studies are undertaken through the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (a four year undergraduate degree program). Postgraduate research supervision is also available in the discipline at Masters and PhD level.

Career Opportunities

Studying Speech Pathology provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice as Speech Pathologists. Graduates are eligible for membership of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia, and can seek employment anywhere in Australia. Degrees recognised by The Speech Pathology Association of Australia are also recognised by the professional associations for speech-language pathology in other countries, for example, the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand.

In Australia, the demand for speech pathology services is high. Speech pathologists usually work from hospitals or community health centres. Work opportunities in schools and in private practice are increasing.

Honours

The award of the degree with honours is a demonstration of the graduate's ability to undertake research under supervision. Students who are interested in undertaking further research studies (e.g. Masters, PhD) at some later stage in their career are strongly advised to consider applying for entry to the Honours stream.

For further information contact theHead of Discipline

Research Higher Degrees

Current topics being supervised

Samar Al-amawi	PhD	Assessment of Aphasia in Arabic speakers
Val Adams	PhD	Evaluating the effects of tongue strength exercises in people with swallowing difficulties
Sarita Koushik	PhD	The effects of spacing Lidcombe Program clinic visits
Rachael O'Brien	MPhil	Rural Speech (Language) Pathologists' perceptions of working with Allied Health Assistants
Jo Steel	PhD	Speech Pathology assessment of cognitive-communication during post-traumatic amnesia
Rachael Unicomb	PhD	Stuttering and speech sound disorders

Clinical Education & Research Program

Clinical education refers to that part of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology Degree program that directly equips the student with the skills and experience to work as speech pathologists at the level of competent beginning practitioners.

Academic courses provide the essential theoretical background to the understanding of clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management, while the clinical education courses provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate the integration of the relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes required for working as a speech pathologist.

The clinical education program aims to provide sufficient quality of clinical education and experience for students to meed the clinical requirements for eligibility for membership of the professional association for speech pathologists, Speech Pathology Australia.

Clinical placements are arranged for students by the Speech Pathology Clinical Education Coordinator, and may take place locally, regionally, rurally, or in the Sydney metropolitan area. Many placements are provided by practising speech pathologists in the course of their everyday work for other agencies, for example Hunter New England Area Health Service. Also, a number of clinical education units which are supported by the University and situated within the community are used for clinical placements.

Specialist clinical experiences are provided in collaboration between the University and specialist services.

Additionally, some clinical programs which are supported by the University offer specially targeted services which have both an educational and research focus. These clinical education & research programs are located within community and social settings and/or based within the University's Speech Pathology Clinic (situated on the Ground Floor of the General Purpose Building on the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus).

Opportunities may also arise for international clinical experiences.